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MPs push to ban choking in pornography to tackle violence against women

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By Noah Newsroom

Sunday, 4 May 2025 12:07AM UTC

An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill seeks to classify choking in pornography as extreme content, aiming to curb the glamorisation of non-fatal strangulation and its link to rising male misogyny, amid concerns about its impact on young people’s perceptions of consent.

Legislative efforts are underway to ban choking in pornography as part of a broader initiative to address rising concerns regarding violence against women and girls. An amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill aims to redefine extreme pornography to include ‘non-fatal strangulation’, as discussions among MPs highlight the dangers of glamorising such behaviour.

The proposed amendment comes in response to findings from Baroness Gabby Bertin’s Independent Pornography Review, which argued that the portrayal of choking in adult content has contributed to rising male misogyny. Shadow victims minister Alicia Kearns emphasised the importance of addressing this issue, stating, “To tackle violence against women and girls, we must tackle porn that promotes violent and misogynistic behaviour towards us.” Kearns pointed out that the glamorisation of strangulation may lead young people to believe that being non-consensually choked is a normal expectation in sexual encounters.

The initiative is also prompted by educational materials reportedly provided to teenagers in Wales, which included advice on seeking consent for such acts. This content, funded by Bridgend County Borough Council, received criticism from London’s victims’ commissioner Claire Waxman, who called it "deeply concerning."

The amendment is expected to be discussed in the committee stage of the Bill, with Tory MP Harriet Cross stating, “Strangulation should never be normalised. Too often, pornography blurs the lines between what is and can be consented to, and when this slides into dangerous or even abusive acts.” Cross echoed concerns regarding the negative impact of extreme pornography, particularly on younger viewers, highlighting the need to address distorted perceptions of what constitutes normal sexual behaviour.

As the legislative discussions progress, the focus remains on the potential implications of banning choking in pornography, with supporters arguing that it could help reshape societal attitudes towards consent and violence in sexual relationships. The outcome will be closely watched as campaigns against misogynistic portrayals in media continue to gain momentum.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_63_of_the_Criminal_Justice_and_Immigration_Act_2008 - This page details Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, which criminalizes the possession of 'extreme pornographic images' in the UK, including depictions of non-fatal strangulation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Jane_Longhurst - This article discusses the murder of Jane Longhurst and the subsequent legislative changes in the UK, including the introduction of laws against 'extreme pornography' following her death.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_McGlynn - This page provides information about Clare McGlynn, a legal scholar who has been influential in advocating for the criminalization of rape pornography in the UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_censorship_in_the_United_Kingdom - This article covers the history and current state of internet censorship in the UK, including the criminalization of 'extreme pornography' under the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adult_film_industry_regulations - This page outlines the regulations governing the adult film industry in the UK, including the definition and legal implications of 'extreme pornography' as per the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/violent-pornography - This UK government page provides information on the laws and regulations related to violent pornography, including the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14676063/MPs-calling-ban-choking-pornography-glamourised.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 6

Notes: Legislative amendments are time-sensitive. No explicit date provided, but the narrative references ongoing parliamentary discussions, suggesting current relevance. No recycled content detected, though committee-stage debates are not always publicly tracked in real-time.

Quotes check

Score: 8

Notes: Direct quotes from Alicia Kearns and Harriet Cross are credible given their public roles. Shadow ministers and MPs frequently comment on legislative matters. First-hand parliamentary statements typically lack timestamped online sources.

Source reliability

Score: 5

Notes: The narrative originates from The Daily Mail, which has mixed reliability for legislative reporting. Quotes from MPs and Baroness Bertin’s review add legitimacy, but independent verification of the amendment’s status is absent.

Plausability check

Score: 7

Notes: The claims align with recent UK efforts to address violence against women via legislative reforms. However, specific references to educational materials in Wales require corroboration. The amendment’s existence is plausible but unverified.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative is plausible given ongoing UK policy debates, but lacks direct verification of the amendment’s status and educational material claims. Quotes from officials lend credibility, though the source’s reliability moderates confidence.

violence against women
pornography legislation
crime and policing bill
consent education
misogyny